Golden Buzzer Recipient & Singing Janitor Richard Goodall Makes Highly Anticipated Return To America’s Got Talent
In May, middle school janitor Richard Goodall won America’s hearts with his audition on Season 19 of America’s Got Talent (otherwise known as AGT). The 55-year-old amazed the judges and viewers with his powerful rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Judge Simon Cowell, who’s famously hard to impress, told Goodall, “That was special, genuinely special. I think America is going to love you.“
Someone else who loved Goodall was AGT judge Heidi Klum, who said his performance knocked her off her feet. Then, she gave him the greatest show of support by pressing the Golden Buzzer for his audition.
Each judge can press the Golden Buzzer twice during the auditions, so Klum’s gesture made it clear how much faith she has in Goodall and his talent.
RELATED: 11 AGT GOLDEN BUZZER PERFORMANCES FANS WILL NEVER FORGET
But the excitement didn’t stop there. Goodall’s audition went viral after it aired and earned millions of views within days.
As of Tuesday (August 13), the official YouTube video of his performance has over 21 million views.
How Did Richard Goodall React To His Golden Buzzer Performance?
After his AGT audition went viral, the singing janitor reacted to his newfound fame.
“After the show has aired, there has been so much support. I cannot answer all of the messages that have come across, like thousands and thousands,” he told WTWO and WAWV TV’s Good Day Live.
Goodall emphasized that he’s still the same person he was before his AGT audition, saying:
“How could I possibly become a diva? I’m not; that is not going to happen. “I am not a fancy person—I never have been, and I never will be. I am a basic person just like everyone else.”
Goodall told the outlet he was still working as a janitor at West Vigo Middle School in Indiana. He hasn’t let fame change him, even though the whole experience has been a whirlwind:
“I am still me and I am at West Vigo Middle School right now and I don’t know how you wrap your head around that,” he said.
Singing Janitor Richard Goodall Delivers New AGT Performance During Live Shows
After nearly three months, AGT fans finally got the chance to watch janitor Richard Goodall sing on the show again. He performed during Tuesday night’s (August 13) live show.
Before his performance, Goodall and his fiancée, Angie, shared that she had suffered a major heart attack and had surgery the day that his original audition aired. As he supported her through a life-changing surgery, she supported his America’s Got Talent journey.
“I have no idea how I would live without her,” Richard said. “Tonight, this song is for her.“
Goodall took the stage to sing a beautiful rendition of Michael Bolton’s 1990 hit, “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You.” While his vocals weren’t perfect, the audience and judges responded with a standing ovation.
Simon Cowell told the janitor that he is “one of the most memorable contestants” but criticized his song choice, calling it old-fashioned. Despite the criticism, Cowell thinks Goodall could stand a chance to win the competition due to his now-massive fanbase.
Goodall ended up earning enough votes to advance to the next stage of the competition, so fans will get the chance to watch him perform again! Check out the singing janitor’s latest AGT performance in the video below.